It is a beautiful thought, my children, that we have a sacrament that heals the wounds of our souls! – Saint John Vianney
Do you have soul wounds?
For me this depends on day-to-day realities. It is a discipline (see Nouwen on discipline below) not to allow things like bitterness, anger, envy, or conceit to enter in, quickly overtaking what I know to be true and beautiful. A harsh rude word is spoken or written. I resent another’s success. Or my day-to-day life practices add up to selfish spending or no time for others, which bring an inability to be generous with either.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Choices, choices, choices. Choices discipline us and bring order in and of themselves. Knowing Christ also did that for me. Knowing that I am the one he loved enough to die for — that his body was broken, the nails cut into his hands and feet as he slowly strangled, gasping for air. All that was for me. For you.
And more than the human part of that death — which was physically painful and devastating — he cried out to God, his father, to rescue him from my sin!
And then, all the petty and selfish choices I make day-to-day feel even more petty, selfish, and sickening.
But wait. The pure beauty of the sacrament is the washing away.
The cleansing of our heart, soul and mind that had been corrupted by the entangling of day-to-day.
“When God took on flesh in Jesus Christ, the uncreated and the created, the eternal and the temporal, the divine and the human became united. This unity meant that all that is mortal now points to the immortal, all that is finite now points to the infinite. In and through Jesus all creation has become like a splendid veil, through which the face of God is revealed to us. This is called the sacramental quality of the created order. All that is is sacred because all that is speaks of God’s redeeming love. Seas and winds, mountains and trees, sun, moon, and stars, and all the animals and people have become sacred windows offering us glimpses of God.”
If truly understood, this is a profound, life changing truth. If you are feeling wounded. If you inflicted those bloody wounds on your own soul, remember. He took on flesh pain and soul pain for you. He took on our sin and we are now joined to him.
And now our lives point others to the immortal, through the confession of our sin and the washing away. Through the cleansing Jesus offers.
Tell him where your soul is wounded. Let him take it from you today.
Amen.
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Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God’s guidance.
Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God’s gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.
These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen’s Bread for the Journey.
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase & I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen & I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised & I unnoticed,Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
(I will admit that I had to look up calumniated which is to “charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone.”)
Whew, that is incredible to read and let it sink into your heart, mind and soul. This prayer is counter cultural. A couple of those made my pulse race as I faced my fear in a physical way.
Desiring to be consulted has been a lifelong struggle for me.
Wanting to increase in the opinion of the world.
That others may be praised & I unnoticed is only something I can hope for, pray for.
I do believe repetition and practice in prayer is effective and powerful. I am going to pray this every day in Lent.
Why I don’t like “women’s” ministry, seminars & conferences specifically for women, or special Bibles and studies written only for women.
It is not that I’m against women (or men) gathering together as a tribe, but I have other, deeper concerns.
First of all, fundamentally it comes out of this notion that men and women are so different that you must make categories of resources just for each group. We certainly have our differences, but that sort of thinking divides us. It’s unproductive. It hurts us more than helps as we try to work out our faith with one another.
Secondly, I don’t like them because I don’t think ideas in scripture are necessarily “for women” or “for men.”
Thirdly, and possibly most important to me, because scripture was translated by men, and it was done a long time ago, by committees, and there were no women involved, therefore I think that the language just might possibly be patriarchal and misleading.
Before you burn me at the stake, look at Proverbs 31:10 to see what I mean. It is the classic verses of a virtuous feminine woman. Yes, it is a description of a woman though I never saw until I looked at the original meaning, that it is a description of a spiritually powerful and strong woman!
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (a group I’ll say up front I don’t totally agree with) describes a “worthy woman” fairly well as “virtuous, trustworthy, energetic, physically fit, economical, unselfish, honorable, lovable, prepared, prudent, and God-fearing.” That’s all good.
Look at the word virtuous in 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies?” (KJV)
The Hebrew word chayil is translated as virtuous or excellent, strength and influence.; a force, an army, able activity in might and power, valiant, full of valor and virtue, and worthy in war.
I’m not making that up. It’s there for anyone to know – to learn. But don’t you think it’s interesting that no one talks about a virtuous woman like that?
I know I have never heard a woman at church described as a warrior — not in all my life and that ‘s a long time of church attending among several denominations. And I had to find it for myself.
Original Word: חָ֫יִל Transliteration: chayil Phonetic Spelling: (khah’-yil) Short Definition: army Definition: strength, efficiency, wealth, army NASB Word Usage: able (5), armies (3), army (82), army* (1), capability (1), capable (3), elite army (1), excellence (1), excellent (2), forces (12), full (1), goods (1), great (1), might (1), mighty (1), nobly (1), power (2), retinue (2), riches (9), strength (10), strong (2), substance (1), troops (2), valiant (41), valiant* (4), valiantly (6), valor (18), very powerful (1), warriors (1), wealth (25), wealthy (1), worthy (1).
A Proverbs 31 Woman:
She is a mighty woman of God.
She is a woman of strength and influence.
She is a woman of force who is able and effective in spiritual warfare, she is full of valor (acts of bravery) and virtue.
“Who can finda virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies.” (KJV)
The Hebrew word for find transliterated matsa,not only means find or acquire‚ but also has the meaning of to come forth, to appear or exist.
Imagine that.
Perhaps these verses are saying:
God is calling mighty and courageous women to come forth, spiritual warriors and champions, who at His command will be a great spiritual force in Jesus name.
Would people be so uncomfortable with this if you inserted “God is calling mighty and courageous MEN, spiritual warriors, champions, forceful and mighty, be a great spiritual force?
So, if as I believe God communicates to us all — straight up, irregardless of our gender — why are we always separating ourselves as women? It just makes me uncomfortable. I think we each benefit as we mix the generations, genders, hipsters and bikers and soccer moms and dads, with boomers, silent gen, under 18 kids, teens or whatever. Single and married, higher education or not, race or ethnicity. The church is the worst at coming across those cultural barriers to worship together. But we are strengthened as people and as a community when we do. Why do we do that? Especially in the church? We lose out. There is so much that we don’t learn. I love that my life is incredibly diverse and I’ll do everything I can to keep it that way.
Tribes. On the other hand, we are all in a tribe, or two or three. We feel connection and solidarity, even strength when we connect from time to time to our tribe. So, I suppose one must find a balance. One of my husband Tom’s Tribes is Musical Geeks and they cross believers and not, women or men, young or old, it matters not at all. They just get together to “geek out” about all sorts of really boring musical minutia. Not my tribe. Not my need. But man does he need and love to be with those folk!
So finding the balance is key.
But, I detest groups “for women.” Bible studies and events just for women. I guess they always will represent to me that women are not yet equal with men in the body of Christ. It’s not an obvious equation, but still that math goes there in my mind and heart.
Sure I’m not your typical evangelical Christian woman. I regularly question every idea in theology. I don’t believe “male headship.” I don’t believe the idea that God’s divine order of things is for me to follow a man. I do believe in order. I do believe in submitting to one another mutually. But right now it feels like there are a million obstacles to women experiencing true equity within the Christian evangelical church.
There’s no way that your typical male is ready for the woman spiritual warrior who is mighty in strength and influence. Uh uh. They’re squirming now in discomfort and ready to thump me over the head with their B I B L E. Oh well.
I can read it for myself. I translated it. I know it is different from some things being taught.
I believe that men and women when utilizing their skills and abilities and spiritual gifts — all given to us by a real and loving God by the way, who chose those skills, abilities and spiritual gifts for us — that creator God is the one that called us. If He made me this way, I should be serving, using my gifts that He gave me.
Because sitting back, watching many capable men do many things in the church is wrong. And only leading in the midst of women is also wrong.
It gets complicated when you don’t know, when you haven’t had your abilities affirmed in the church. But some day, women will come to know themselves capable of being that woman described in Proverbs 31.
God is calling mighty and courageous women to come forth, spiritual warriors and champions, who at His command will be a great spiritual force in Jesus name.
Amen.
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Some things I am reading my way through:
Women’s Bible Commentary by Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, Editors. “… the writers focus on “portions . . . that deal explicitly with female characters and symbols . . . and sections that bear upon the condition of women generally.” Although the contributors share this goal, they take different paths. In addition to the commentary itself, there are helpful essays on feminist hermeneutics and daily life in biblical times. This commentary will raise eyebrows, and it will raise consciousness as well. It will not be well received in all quarters, but it is essential for those who are seriously interested in biblical and feminist studies. Recommended for seminary, university, and public libraries.” – Craig W. Beard, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.
“No one will go away from the volume with her or his old assumptions about biblical texts intact…The challenge and pleasure of this work is its tendency to upset expectations about familiar books”. Theology Today
“No mistake was made in heaven when God gave you the gift of leadership or teaching. Every gift you have came from the hand of a loving Father who crafted you.”— Nancy Beach
How I Changed my Mind about Women in Leadership. Compelling stories from Prominent Evangelicals including Stuart and Jill Briscoe, Tony Campolo, Bill and Lynn Hybels, I. Howard Marshall, John and Nancy Ortberg, Cornelius Pantinga.
[I find this website Biblos to be a great resource in my Bible study. It has many commentaries, original translation, many versions of text, and concordance. SO many things that I’ve never used including dictionary, atlas, even bible studies.]
Yep, that is pretty much the way to communicate these days. Some call it critique (I have) but it is pretty much bad news. And a bad example. And it’s gotten so out of hand with one of my kids that I just snapped recently. “Not another word!” I found myself screaming. I totally understand the old adage which I heard from my father “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!” And when he was mad, just “Shut up” in Tibetan so no one else would know what he was saying.
So I’m trying to lead by example and not complain about anything or criticize anyone, or gossip, for 21 days, which is how long it takes to form a habit apparently.
They offer purple bracelets (you can get free on their website) but I have stuck with a rubber band. Wear it on a wrist and switch it to the other wrist when you catch yourself expressing a complaint, gossiping or criticizing. And begin again. I started on Sunday and I haven’t made it through a day, yet. But I am über conscious of my thoughts and have struggled to not express a lot of complaints, criticism or gossip. The idea is by changing your words you change your thoughts — a constant striving to reformat your mental hard drive. By doing that you change your heart and your life.
And I think Jesus would agree. He talks a lot about kindness, speaking kindly to one another, not slandering one another, not calling names. In Matt 5.22:
Whoever says to his brother raca will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says “you fool” will be liable to fiery Gehenna. NIV
But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,* you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult*[Greek say Raca to an obscure term of abuse] a brother or sister,* you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell* of fire. NRSV
Whoah! Bottom line beyond our words: “Be kind.” Watch our tongues, stop putting others down, or gossiping. Perhaps I’m just on about this because I have two middle-schoolers and they are often catty and snarky and I find myself also guilty. It’s such a common part of our culture that we don’t even realize it, often.
So, build into your life a practice of treating others with respect, giving people the benefit of the doubt, stopping your tongue, and be kind!
This could easily become a fix-it gimmick, but if you look at this in spiritual terms I believe it could change you forever. Irrevocably.
Speaking positively about others is a simple thing, but it is so hard to do. Trust me, I shout out loud at the “idiots” on the road. I talk about people who I don’t understand (e.g. gossip). I called the Governor of Wisconsin a bad name yesterday. When you have kids all of a sudden you have a mirror in front of you or in the case of yelling obscenities at the dog-sh*t on the floor, you have a tape recorder in the memory of your children. Yikes!
Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms: Shut Your Mouth! Don’t be a fool. Be kind.
Listen to him and I believe it will change you.
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[“Ephphatha” Be opened] First in a series on responding to Jesus’ words
I am dismayed — mortified — and full of questions this morning as I continue to read the news. My human response is to consider the gun carrying, Quran burning, pastor Terry Jones, to be idiotic and stupid, the definition of ignorance. Although my gut response isn’t helpful or kind (or very Godly) can I say I just don’t understand him — at — all! ? It seems to me to be unfair that such a crazy man “represents” the same powerful, life-changing, transforming, beautiful faith that I have experienced with Jesus. And because Terry Jones speaks so loudly (and is getting so much media coverage) I must say: He does not speak for me.
I have to speak up and say: This is not my faith. This is not my Christianity. Not my religion. It is nothing like what I know to be true about Jesus and how Jesus would respond to the climate between people of various faiths in America today. I cannot conceive of the level of confusion and misguided thinking that would lead a follower of Christ to make these expressions of their (supposed) faith.
The freedom to express one’s self is a cherished liberty in America — I value the freedom I have to write my thoughts down here on this blog and express my beliefs and thoughts. But burning a book (sacred or otherwise), a flag, a cross, a church, a temple — it is all so indulgent and wrong.
A post by Eugene Cho this morning helps to direct thoughtful people toward a peaceful response asking the sometimes silly question: WWJD.
What Jesus would do ?
“How do their/your/my (my addition in italics) actions and stories testify to God’s work and invitation of reconciliation and redemption? As Christians, we can find harmony in the beauty of the Gospel: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16] And because Christ has died for us, we can live for the work of reconciliation and redemption. I am not suggesting we be timid in our declaration of Christ as the way, the truth and the life. But in doing so, we can also choose to lay down the sword and choose love and build peace. We can choose to believe the truth of the Gospel: God not only died for us but dwelt amongst us. He walked among us. And he did the most amazing thing: Jesus ate with humanity.”
Jesus came to “restore, redeem and reconcile” us. He wants to heal us of our depravity. He died so that we could be changed people. He brought the Peace of himself to our world — of confusion, hatred and ignorance. This is the whole reason for what Jesus did – giving his life for our life. By coming to earth and walking and eating with us, he showed us only love. Love others as you love me, he said.
Cho says it well: “God wants eternal communion and friendship with us. He creates it, pursues it, and ultimately sends his Son to restore, redeem and reconcile that Relationship – as the perfect Sacrifice. Truly amazing.”
How does Jesus respond to the state of faith in America. I believe … Jesus weeps for us. And why do I share this today? Because what God has done for me is to heal me, making my life about reconciliation not judgment. And I do not want the reputation of Christ to be slaughtered by men like Terry Jones. No, God does not need me to salvage his reputation, but still I feel compelled to speak for what I have experienced as a person of faith.
If you want to talk to me about this or anything else I have written, please give me a call. Or email me at: melhhanson@yahoo.com. Otherwise please feel free to leave a thought here.
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Logic & Imagination 